Pasta Bolognese

It’s gravy, not sauce. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. Whatever you want to call it, I call it delicious. Bolognese isn’t your average jar of pasta sauce. It’s rich and decadent with a subtle creaminess that you won’t find in a supermarket sauce. I will admit, there are a lot of ingredients and it isn’t the fastest dish you can prepare. But, the good news is you can make it ahead of time or even freeze it to serve later.

Start by sauteing finely diced onion, carrot, celery and garlic in a large pan of half the olive oil on medium high heat until softened, but not browned. Set it aside.

A fancy word for this mixture is mirepoix.

Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and saute pancetta until slightly browned. Add the ground beef and cook until brown, then return the vegetables to the pan and stir. Add white wine and cook for about 5 minutes. Now add thyme, oregano and basil. Right about now, the house smells amazing and people start wandering into the kitchen hoping for a sample. Quickly shoo them away so that you can continue making magic.

Stir in the chicken stock, tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. Be sure to blend the tomato paste well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer. Now season the gravy with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. And now for the best part: stir in heavy cream. Doesn’t everything taste better with a little cream in it? Continue to let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve the bolognese over your favorite pasta with fresh parmesan and a crusty Italian bread. Delish!

Pasta Bolognese pairs just as well with a dry white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc, as it does with a nice red.